BAYLOUGH KAYAKING
Get out on the lake!
Knockmealdown Active runs kayak hire on Bay Lough, a spectacular corrie lake high in the Knockmealdown Mountains on the Tipperary–Waterford border. The water is calm and current-free, the sit-on kayaks are easy to handle, and all the gear is provided.
so it’s perfect whether you’ve paddled for years or never set foot in a kayak.
FROM BOOKING TO WATER
Step 1
Book a session
Book nowReserve online in advance — busy slots fill up, and online bookings take priority over turning up on the day.
Step 2
Park & walk down
From the lake car park it's a 15–20 minute walk down to the water (downhill there, uphill back).
Step 3
Get kitted out
Paddles and a full buoyancy jacket are provided. New to it? The lake operator gives a quick orientation.
Step 4
Paddle the lake
No currents, so you can rest whenever you like and just soak up the quiet. Sessions run about an hour.
WHAT YOU NEED BEFORE YOU GO
Beginners & safety
- No experience needed — the calm, current-free lake is made for first-timers.
- You don’t need to be able to swim; you’ll wear a buoyancy jacket the whole time.
- Sit-on kayaks are very safe — you can’t get trapped, and worst case you slip off and climb straight back on.
What to bring & who can go
- A change of clothes and especially footwear — expect wet feet, so old runners are ideal.
- Singles carry one person; doubles carry two, or an adult with a child under 16.
- Under-16s need an adult on the water with them. Dogs are welcome on a leash onshore (with a minder), but not on the kayak.
Bay Lough is just past the Vee on the road from Clogheen towards Cappoquin and Lismore. Directions, parking and the full list of FAQs are on the Bay Lough Kayaking website.
Bay Lough Kayaking is the paddling strand of Knockmealdown Active, a volunteer-run group bringing outdoor community events to the Knockmealdown Mountains and the villages around them — Newcastle, Ballyporeen, Clogheen, Goatenbridge, Ardfinnan and beyond.
Walk it. Visit it. Be part of it.
Walk it.
Visit it.
Be part of it.
Walk it. Visit it.
Be part of it.
Knockmealdown Active helps connect people with the region and the communities around it.
If you want help planing your visit, to sign up for an event, or if you would like help us by to supporting Knockmealdown Active as a volunteer, please get in touch.
Knockmealdown Active helps connect people with the region and the communities around it.
If you want help planing your visit, to sign up for an event, or if you would like help us by to supporting Knockmealdown Active as a volunteer, please get in touch.